South Africa will look to end the league stage with an impressive performance against Afghanistan to be played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 10th November 2023. The Proteas would look for an improved performance as they were completely outplayed by India with a 243-run loss at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Afghanistan has shown tremendous skills with a superb performance against 5-time Champion Australia but thanks to Glenn Maxwell’s brilliance, they could not register a victory and need a huge win to qualify for the semi-finals.
Both teams have good quality players who can change the course of the game with their abilities and make sure that they help their countries register victory.
Here we look at the 5 players between South Africa and Afghanistan
- Quinton de Kock
Quinton de Kock fell cheaply in the previous match against India. He has been in sensational form of late during this World Cup with 4 centuries and would look to give an attacking start against Afghanistan.
Chasing down 131 runs, de Kock was the top scorer with 68 and helped South Africa win the match by 9 wickets. He will be eager to showcase his attacking abilities in the first 10 overs against Afghanistan which would help South Africa register a victory and go into the semi-finals with confidence.
- Ibrahim Zadran
Ibrahim Zadran had a brilliant outing in the previous match against Australia. He looked in great touch putting pressure on the Aussies bowling. It was a superb batting effort by Ibrahim as he became the first Afghan batter to score century in World Cup history. He remained not out on 129 and helped Afghanistan post 291 for 5.
He is the leading run-scorer for Afghanistan in this World Cup. Ibrahim Zadran would look to end this tournament on a high with another superb performance against South African bowling comprising of Jansen, Rabada, and other bowlers that would look to create pressure on Afghanistan batters.
Zadran would be key for Afghanistan to provide stability in the first 10 overs and help them keep the pressure on South African bowlers.
- Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram could not contribute much to the previous match against India. He has been in superb form in the ongoing World Cup so far. Coming at number 4, Markram provided stability when the team is struggling or could hit big shots when they laid a strong foundation for a big total.
He did not get a chance to bat in the 2019 edition of the World Cup as South Africa won the match by 9 wickets. Markram would be eager to prove his worth with a good batting performance against Afghanistan bowling and gain confidence ahead of the semi-finals to be played on 16th November at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
- Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan had a brilliant spell in the previous match against Australia. With the bat, Rashid Khan provided quickfire knock that helped Afghanistan post 291 for 5.
He bowled brilliantly picking wickets of Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Starc. It was a good spell by Rashid Khan ending with figures of 2 for 44.
Rashid Khan would be key for Afghanistan to pick wickets in the middle overs that would put pressure on South African batters when chasing down the target.
- Kagiso Rabada
Kagiso Rabada did a superb job in the previous match against India. He grabbed the wicket of Indian captain Rohit Sharma in his first over to brake 62 runs opening partnership.
Rabada did a decent job in the death overs not allowing Kohli and other batters to score runs freely. When these two teams met during the 2019 World Cup, Rabada ended with figures of 1 for 36 in his 8 overs.
He will play a key role in picking wickets and helping South Africa gain confidence ahead of the semi-finals against Australia on 16th November at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
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